The Barkley Lake Water District Board of Commissioners accepted a low bid of $74,431 for a garage for the district’s equipment at their meeting on November 19.

The bid, from JHS Construction of Eddyville includes a foundation, a 26-gauge steel Kirby Building and rolling metal doors with automatic openers. Commissioner Stanley Brimmer made the motion to buy the building subject to review of specifications submitted in the bid package. Six other companies also bid for to build the building, with one from Rhino Buildings being called “irregular” due to no provisions in the bid package for a concrete foundation.

Engineering Consultant Ricky Oakley said, “This is probably an irregular bid because they did not follow the rules you set out.”

Commissioner David Kyler suggested that the district review the apparent low-bid to ensure the specifications of the bid were followed before granting final award to JHS.

In addition to JHS and Rhino, Cadiz Drywall, John Clark Construction, M&W Construction, Greenfield Steel Buildings, and John-Dell Builders also submitted bids for the building.

JHS’s bid offered the steel doors as an alternate to the package, though Oakley said the district had to be considered with the same type doors outlined in the bids.

Sales Representative James Schamp said that the rolling doors provided greater headroom within the building and did not obscure internal lighting. He added that the building would be constructed to meet seismic construction requirements mandated by Trigg County’s proximity to the New Madrid Fault.

Schamp added that the building could be delivered within six to eight weeks subject to construction at a factory. The structure could be assembled in as little as three weeks, as the concrete for the foundation would be poured and cured during the time of the building’s fabrication.

The board also voted to improve the expansion of a water line on the new bridge on Highway 272 from six to eight inches. Oakley said that the expanded water line would double capacity for that section of the water line.

As the existing water line is scheduled for replacement, along with the bridge as a part of the State Highway Department’s project, Oakley said that the state would pay $50,000 for replacement with a similar six-inch line. He added that the district would have to pay the $12,000 difference.

To read the only coverage of the LBWD in the area, see your Cadiz Record. >